Formerly haligweorc; Liturgical Spirituality for the Episcopal Church

Thoughts on the YouTube Experiment

Initial thoughts on three weeks of the YouTube experiment…

1. Creating graphics, writing, shooting, and editing takes more time than I expected. That’s ok when it’s a regular week. Last week wasn’t regular, though. I was on the road doing the clergy conference for the Diocese of Long Island, then doing an Inwardly Digest weekend at two parishes up there. That really threw off my timing resulting in a very late upload.

2. I’m still in the editing learning curve. There are several new things that I want to try to make the video quality better (better transitions, add music, add end cards, etc.) but with the time crunch on the previous video couldn’t spend the time to head down those rabbit holes.

3. I notice that—I’m way more fun live than recorded… I observed that during my Long Island trip. I think I’m better and more engaging when I’m interacting with a live audience than talking to the camera. Maybe it’s the narrow focus of the videos but I’m not sure.

4. My Digital Strategist believes that the videos are too long. She’s recommending a short version and then maybe an expanded cut for those people who care to hear more.

5. I’m still wondering what my best media options are between blogging, podcasting, and the videos.

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7 thoughts on “Thoughts on the YouTube Experiment”

I am enjoying the videos and I see a continued improvement. I have been attending an Episcopalian church for about a year and a half and have found St. Here Productions very helpful for someone raised a Presbyterian. The prayer book I find difficult to navigate and the videos are definitely a help understanding the week. I have three of your books as well and find them helpful,engaging and readable.

Noting that you hadn’t had comments, I’ll offer a comment: I followed to the first one, and felt that your Digital Strategist was right that the length is too much. For me, the St. Bede Psalmcast of blessed memory, rather than looking at the coming Office readings via YouTube, was more useful and more likely to produce something I could mention to a layperson or incorporate in teaching in some way. If I had to choose, I would personally prefer in ranked order either 1) more blogging or 2) a return of the Psalmcast. I would not prefer anything in a YouTube interface. But of course that’s just me.

All of your postings in all the media you’ve explored have been helpful and insightful. It’s been fascinating to see your books (especially INWARDLY DIGEST) develop through your reflections on the blog since I became an Episcopalian 10 years ago..

High production values are wonderful, but I’d say don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. That’s where podcasts have the advantage; you can do an awesome podcast with significantly less effort than a video that’s more than a talking head. Video is highly engaging, though, especially for the younger demographic—and that includes many folks who are 40+.

Still a big blog fan. Not crazy about videos, but if other people are, then I guess you should create them. But I prefer reading, and always read what you write here. Seems deeper and yet more unscripted, somehow. Videos always seem a little too production-value to me. Again, could just be my own taste, though….

(I mean, not your videos in particular. Whenever I see videos online, I tend to skip them in favor of reading. I think I like being able to read over the content again if I need to, and make connections between the various parts of the piece; video seems too airy and less substantial somehow. Probably just me.)